Personal Robots

Personal Robots

The robotics revolution, so far confined to factories and the cute little device that roams your house sucking up dirt, is about to hit closer to home. In Japan, so-called “carerobos” are now helping workers look after the elderly in assisted living facilities. In one facility, a large-eyed humanoid named Pepper leads the residents in song, while a robotic baby harp seal named Part responds to touch and sound, turning to and nuzzling patients who stroke or talk to it. Aibo, a robo-dog originally intended for the retail market, is being repurposed as a pet for the elderly. Pepper also helps monitor the corridors at night, and even leads exercise classes. A survey found that using robots encouraged over a third of the residents to become more active and autonomous.

Will robots get even more personal? A survey of 12,000 people of mixed ages worldwide found that up to 27 percent of 18-34-year-olds would be comfortable swapping out a human romantic relationship for a romantic—and sexual—relationship with a robot. Men were three times more likely than women to form such relationships.